Tomb of Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty

Tomb of Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty

The Tomb of Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty, is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Tomb of Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty, is situated at the southern foot of Jiulong Mountain, 10 kilometers northeast of Zoucheng City. The tomb chamber faces south and was sited according to the ancient “Four Deities Orientation.” It neighbors Wolong Mountain to the east and Yuhuang Mountain to the west, while facing Zhuque Mountain to the south. The tomb of Zhu Tan was carved into the rock face 26 meters below ground level. It features a sloping tomb passage over 80 meters in length, which is followed by an 8.2-meter-high diamond wall covered with green glazed tiles and red painted plaster. At the center of the lower part of the diamond wall is the tomb door. Both the front and rear chambers are equipped with double-leaf pivot-style stone doors, each weighing about 2 tons. The tomb chamber is 20.6 meters long from north to south, 8.2 meters wide from east to west, and 5.5 meters high. The grand scale of the tomb chamber makes it the largest underground palace in Shandong Province.

The coffin of Zhu Tan is located in the center of the rear chamber, placed on a brick-carved coffin bed. The coffin, made of sturdy and heavy nanmu wood, once held Zhu Tan dressed in a dragon robe, with a jade belt around his waist, a golden hairpin in his hair, and 19 gold coins beneath him. The tomb contains over 2,000 funerary objects, including ceremonial attire, musical instruments, chess sets, calligraphy and paintings, funeral paraphernalia, and furniture, most of which are well preserved. Key cultural relics include an embroidered dragon robe, a ceremonial crown, a leather cap, the “Seal of the Prince of Lu,” a gold-inlaid jade belt, a plum blossom-shaped mutton-fat jade ring, a Song Dynasty “Heavenly Wind and Ocean Waves” guqin, a fan painting inscribed with a poem by Emperor Gaozong of Song (Zhao Gou), a Yuan Dynasty handscroll “White Lotus” by Qian Xuan, Yuan Dynasty ancient books, and a Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white jar with cloud-and-dragon motifs. The 432 painted figurines unearthed from the tomb feature bright colors, balanced proportions, fine carving, and lifelike expressions. Artifacts from the tomb have been exhibited in major cities in Beijing and Japan.

The tomb was excavated in 1971. Since 1985, Zoucheng City has undertaken its development and construction: First, the above-ground mausoleum complex, measuring 206 meters in length from north to south and 80 meters in width from east to west, was restored, divided into a front and a rear courtyard. The center of the southern wall of the front courtyard features a two-bay gate, and the central wall has a suspended gable-style three-bay ceremonial gate, both with carved beams and painted rafters, and covered with green tiles. The center of the rear courtyard houses the foundation of a grand sacrificial hall. Second, the Zhu Tan Tomb Cultural Relics Management Office was established. Third, over 270 replicated artifacts from the tomb were created and displayed in arrangements mirroring their original placement. The tomb has been officially open to visitors since March 1988.

Zhu Tan (1370–1389) was the tenth son of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the third year of the Hongwu era [1370], he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Lu. In the eighteenth year [1385], he was dispatched to take up his fief in Yanzhou. He had a fondness for literature and respected scholars, and was skilled in poetry. However, he consumed elixirs containing metals and minerals, which poisoned him and damaged his eyesight. The emperor disapproved of his actions. He passed away in the twenty-second year [1389].

… More details about Zhu Tan ++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Jining City

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level